Best wattage for a 55gal?

[logan89]

Hey guys, I have a four foot tank with a single 48" flourescent tube, and I was going to go to the lfs this week and pick up two 24" twin-tube light strips. What wattage should I get? I don't know the wattage of the current bulb, the letters on the bulb are really faded.

What i'm looking for is a really smooth, evenly distrubuted soft light. The one I have now is extremely bright/pinkish purple looking. I don't mean so soft I can barely see my fish, but, well, you get the idea.

Thanks bunches,

-Logan

EDIT: Also, is there any brand of light bulb that makes your fish' colors look BRIGHTER?

EDIT-2: Here are some pictures so you can see what i'm talking about: http/img276.imageshack.us/img276/2641/fu...lightson6kw.jpg
http/img276.imageshack.us/img276/8249/fullshot3oi.jpg

 

[Lateral Line]

With regular fluorescent lamps, the Wattage is a function of the length. Thus a 4' lamp will be 40W, 2' lamps will be 20W.

Pinkish purple sounds like a Gro-Lux type lamp, good for plants, but a bit dim. Without knowing what you have available, it is difficult to offer brand/model type advice. Generally, a full spectrum ~6000K lamp will be good.

 

[logan89]

Ok, thank you. Just what I needed to know.

 

[Jts_Fish]

not anything answering your question, but where did you get that HUGE cave/castle from? i like that!

what kind of fish do you have? i bought two 15inch bulbs that were made to show off my african cichlids..

 

[logan89]

No fish yet, still cycling.

About the castle thing, it came with the tank. I think its supposed to be underwater ruins, its really cool up close too, really detailed.

I am probably going to be going with a new world cichlid tank, maybe a few other kinds of fish. I'll definatly repost in the member aquarium picture forum when I get my fish.